Former Thai PM charged with protest murder

Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been charged with the murder of a taxi driver who was shot during a military crackdown on protests in 2010.

Abhisit and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban were both formally charged over the death by the country's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Thursday.

The charge relates to the death of taxi driver Phan Kamkong, who, according to a recent inquest finding, was shot dead by government security forces.

A total of 90 people were killed and 1,900 injured in clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces.

The taxi driver was not a demonstrator but was killed in a hail of bullets during the resulting military crackdown.

Both men will plead not guilty to the charge, which Abhisit has dubbed "political".

A spokesman for his Democrat Party says the charge is not true and that both men were not at fault because they were state authorities preventing violent and illegal acts.

Abbhist says while he will fight the charge, if he is found guilty he will accept the punishment, even if it is the death penalty.

"I will not run away... I am not a coward," he told reporters.

The Oxford-educated former premier says he has 45 days to file supporting statements with the DSI, who will then decide whether to pass the case to the state prosecutors responsible for deciding if the matter goes to trial.

Both he and Suthep were free to leave the court without any conditions.

Earlier hundreds of riot police flanked the building, as about 20 supporters carrying roses and dozens of protesters holding pictures of those killed in the unrest watched the former leader arrive for questioning.

Abhist and Suthep are the first officials to face a court over Thailand's worst political violence in decades.